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This paper analyses the nationalities of the editorial board members of the top 20 journals (according to their impact factor in the ISI Journal Citation Report, Science Edition 2005) serving 15 scientific disciplines. A total of 281 journals were analysed (some journals crossed disciplinary boundaries) and 10,055 of their editorial board members were identified. Some 53% of board members were from the United States. Europe provided 32%, with the United Kingdom making the greatest contribution (9.8%). The analysis of scientific output by nationality in these journals showed a significant correlation, in all disciplines, with the representation of the corresponding nations on the editorial boards. The composition of editorial boards may therefore provide a useful indicator for measuring a country's international scientific visibility. The present results should be taken into account in the design of national policies with the aim of enhancing the presence of a country's most prestigious scientists on the editorial boards of the main international journals.

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Background Robotic surgery (RS) may offer benefits compared with freehand/conventional surgery (FS) in the treatment of patients with spinal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RS versus FS in spinal fusion. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. Data analysis and risk of bias assessment were analysed using REVMAN V5.3. Results We found 11 randomised clinical trials involving 817 patients (FS: 408, RS: 409). The main diagnosis was degenerative spine disease. SpineAssist, Renaissance (Mazor Robotics), Tianji Robot and TiRobot robots (TINAVI Medical Technologies) were used. Pedicle screw placement within the safety zone (grades A + B according to the Gertzbein and Robbins scale) ranged from 93% to 100% in FS versus 85–100% in RS (relative risk 1.01, 95% CI  1.00–1.03, p = 0.14). Regarding intervention time, the meta-analysis showed a mean difference (MD) of 6.45 min (95% CI  −13.59 to 26.49, p = 0.53). Mean hospital stay was MD of −0.36 days (95% CI  −1.03 to 0.31, p = 0.30) with no differences between groups. Contradictory results were found regarding fluoroscopy time, although there seems to be a lower radiation dose in RS versus FS (p < 0.05). Regarding safety, the studies included surgical revision frequency. Conclusions No conclusive results were found suggesting that there are benefits in using RS over FS for spinal fusion. Further research with adequate patient selection, robot type and quality-of-life variables is needed. Level of evidence: level 1.

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Cómo citar este artículo/Citation: García-Carpintero, E.; Albert-Martínez, A.; Granadino, B.; Plaza, L.M. (2014). Análisis de la colaboración entre las empresas biotecnológicas españolas con actividades de I+D y el sistema público de I+D. Revista Española de Documentación Científica, 37(2):e041. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3989/redc.2014.2.1106Resumen: El desarrollo y la mejora de la cooperación entre el sector productivo y el sistema público de I+D puede generar un conjunto de ventajas competitivas para estas empresas. El presente trabajo describe las experiencias y percepciones de las empresas biotecnológicas españolas en su colaboración con el sistema público de I+D. Los resultados muestran que prácticamente la totalidad de empresas biotecnológicas españolas con actividades de I+D (un 93,6%) han mantenido algún tipo de colaboración con el sistema público de I+D. Los principales obstáculos percibidos por estas empresas en su colaboración con el sistema público de I+D son el exceso de burocracia y la respuesta lenta de los investigadores. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren la conveniencia de establecer políticas y programas públicos para fomentar la transferencia de conocimiento y tecnología desde el sistema público de I+D a las empresas, fundamentalmente centrados en la necesidad de incentivar a los investigadores del sistema público de I+D y mejorar el funcionamiento de las Oficinas de Transferencia de Tecnología.Palabras clave: Biotecnología; transferencia de tecnología; innovación; sistema público de I+D; cooperación industria-academia. Analysis of the collaboration between Spanish biotechnological companies with R&D activities and the public R&D systemAbstract: The development and improvement of cooperation between the industrial sector and the public R&D system can produce competitive advantages for the companies. The present work describes experiences and perceptions of Spanish biotechnology companies in their collaboration with the public R&D system. Results show that almost all the biotechnological companies with R&D activities (93.6%) have cooperated with the public R&D system. The main barriers found by the companies are the excess of bureaucracy and the slow response of public researchers. Results obtained also suggest the need to establish public policies and programmes to promote knowledge and technology transfer from public research centres to companies, with a special focus on encouraging researchers from the public R&D system and on improving how Technology Transfer Offices work.

Resumen: Este trabajo tiene por objetivo determinar la posible correlación existente entre la producción científica española cubierta por las 100 revistas SCI con mayores factores de impacto y la presencia de investigadores españoles en los consejos o comités científicos de dichas revistas. El aná-lisis de la composición de los consejos editoriales ha permitido constatar que la adscripción de instituciones científicas europeas en los comités o consejos editoriales de las 100 primeras revistas del JCR es muy reducida, estando estos órganos mayoritariamente constituidos por investigadores norteamericanos y británicos. La presencia de miembros de instituciones científicas españolas en los comités editoriales es significativamente escasa, tanto desde una perspectiva mundial como a escala europea. De los 3.474 miembros identificados, únicamente 16 son investigadores españoles y participan en los comités de 9 revistas. Por otra parte, estas 9 revistas, no muestran unas cifras de producción científica española mayores que las correspondientes a países con notables semejanzas científicas con España, como Italia u Holanda. Estos indicadores pretenden servir de base para el debate y la posible implementación de medidas para incrementar la presencia española en comités editoriales de las principales revistas científi-cas de proyección internacional. Palabras clave: revistas científicas, comités editoriales, selección de manuscritos, publicaciones científicas españolas. Abstract:The main objective of this work is to determine the correlation between the Spanish scientific output covered by the first 100 SCI journals ranking with the highest impact factor, and the presence of Spanish researchers in the editorial boards of these journals. The analysis of the editorial boards indicated that the presence of scientists of European scientific institutions as memberships of these editorial boards is very low, being these boards mainly represented by US and British researchers. The presence of Spanish scientists in the editorial boards mentioned is rather low at European and world wide level. From the 3474 members identified, only 16 are Spanish scientists and they are present in editorial boards of 9